It’s been a particularly difficult few years. First we had the Pandemic, then Ukraine and now Kwasi Kwarteng. All we need now is for Everton to be relegated. The current political furore reminds me of Margaret Thatcher’s budget in June 1981, scarcely a month after the General Election. It was a controversial budget, introducing us to Thatcherism. One commentator, I recall, stated that if you are going to make radical change, you might as well go the whole way and do it pro

“Apologies to anyone waiting on their pizza,” tweeted Domino’s Pizza on Tuesday, “we've just received an order from Holly and Phil.” Yes, it’s been a difficult week – to say the least – for ITV’s This Morning presenters, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. They have received a torrent of abuse for what must be the worst offence imaginable for anyone English: queue jumping. And we are not talking about any old queue; we are talking about The Queue. It seems that the pa

"During these years as your Queen, the support of my family has, across the generations, been beyond measure. Prince Philip is, I believe, well-known for declining compliments of any kind. But throughout he has been a constant strength and guide." So addressed the Queen to Parliament on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee in March, 2012. Clearly, as her faith in God sustained her during her remarkable life, so the support of her husband was a key component. As it happened, a

By any reckoning, a truly remarkable person. Of course, we all saw it coming. We knew that the age of 96 the end of the reign of our Queen was coming to an end: but nevertheless, a profound shock when it happened yesterday afternoon. Strangely for me, the most poignant quote was from our recently-ejected Prime Minister: “there is an ache at the passing of our queen, a deep and personal sense of loss — far more intense, perhaps, than we expected.” Indeed Boris may be a grea

AN unholy row has erupted following claims that a local vicar has divided his parish. So reported the Champion free newspaper in all of its three editions for Southport & Formby, North Liverpool and West Lancashire, on 27th December, 2006. That’s a lot of readers, some 165,000 copies. The article, which covered three columns on page 2, continued: “According to Aughton Parish Council, attendance numbers at Christ Church on Liverpool Road is at an all-time low and the blame r